The search for Brooklyn “missing-presumed-dead” woman in Johannesburg on Saturday has failed to yield a positive result.
Family and friends gathered at the Gemiston golf club at 06:00 for the second search for Dawn Basdeo, who went missing almost three months ago.
Basdeo was reported missing at the Brooklyn police station and her husband Prem was on trial for her murder even though her body was yet to be found.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Basdeo ‘murderer’ lied about where he dumped the body, searchers say
Search co-ordinator and security expert Rynardt du Preez said the search started around the Rand Airport, where they believed her body may have been buried.
Du Preez said about 10 open fields were searched by a team of close to 150 volunteers, police divers and a rescue team.
“We covered a massive area,” he said.
“We had hoped this search would be successful.”
He said more research would go into trying to find the exact location of the body.
“We need to go back to the drawing board and see how we proceed from here but we will definitely keep searching.”
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Missing Pretoria woman: State wants to look into Basdeo’s previous murder case
He said the family were disappointed by the outcome, but still positive in the pursuit of finding their mother.
The family first searched the Erasmia area, Centurion, on 18 August.
“The family needs to find their closure and that’s what keeps them going – the need to find closure.”
Police spokesperson Captain Colette Weilbach said even though no new leads had been uncovered the police would continue the search for the body and provide the family with the necessary support.
Prem was denied bail in July after a Pretoria magistrate said the state had a strong case against him.
In shocking testimony during the bail hearing, the state told the court Prem had admitted to disposing of his wife’s body after she fell in the family bathroom during an argument.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Search continues for missing Brooklyn woman’s body
It was believed that Prem stood to gain nearly R4-million in insurance payouts following his wife’s death.
He reportedly also inherited a substantial amount after the death of his first wife, Neetha, whom he was also accused of murdering 14 years ago.
Neetha was found dead in a shipping container the family lived in while their house was being refurbished.
Prem and his son Jordan by Neetha were acquitted of her murder due to a lack of evidence.
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